Dear Readers, I don't usually take on topics that could be perceived as controversial. I try to stay away from issues that are known to spark debate, instead focusing on me, my family, and what God is doing for us. I believe that's what this blog is for. But I have something weighing on me that needs to be said. And, while I feel this topic isn't really "controversial," it is one that might create discord and I am prepared for that. To any new readers, please know that this kind of post is outside the normal scope of this blog. I just want to be up front about that. Thanks for reading.
Last night, after crawling into bed after a dissatisfying Super Bowl game (I'll let you guess who I went for), I opened up my Facebook app to see what the world was saying.
It was mostly things like,
"I skipped Downton Abbey for this?!"
That's what I'm saying!
"The best part of the Super Bowl… #jackisback"
Amen and hallelujah.
That's what I'm saying!
"The best part of the Super Bowl… #jackisback"
Amen and hallelujah.
"God punished the Broncos for cutting Tim Tebow."
…………………. wait, WHAT?
I don't know if people were joking or not, but it seriously shocked me. Allowing a certain team to suffer an embarrassing loss in the biggest game of the year just for cutting a certain player? How could anyone consider that that's even in God's nature?
I'm not trying to single anyone out here; I honestly don't remember who wrote those updates and I don't pretend know the heart behind them. For all I know, they may have been joking. If you wrote something along these lines, please don't hear judgment from me. That's not my heart. I just don't agree with this sentiment and I wanted to share my reasons why. If you were saying it in jest, you have my permission to ignore the rest of the post. :)
1. God is not some big karma-doling Being who spends His time determining who should be punished and how. Our blessings do not correlate to our behavior. Jesus said, "For He makes His sun shine on good and bad people alike, and He sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike" (Matthew 5:45 CJB). God doesn't withhold blessings from the wicked.* Otherwise how would the wicked ever come to know Him? I'm not saying the Broncos are wicked. They are a team made up of people, some of whom I'm sure are believers and some of whom are not. But that's not the point. The point is that God isn't punitive, y'all. If He was, none of us would be standing right now. I know I wouldn't, anyway.
* Obviously there is a difference in blessings and favor, guys. I'm not discounting the fact that there is real hand-of-God favor on the lives of all who have chosen to believe in Jesus. I'm just saying there are certain blessings that are just a part of life. You win some, you lose some. Football is football. Please, let's not make it all religious. :)
2. This attitude is essentially saying that God favors Tebow over every other football player in Denver. Combined. I don't believe my God is capable of that kind of favoritism. And I don't want to. I want to believe in a God who loves everyone equally, roots for everyone equally, is just as happy to see Peyton Manning succeed as Tim Tebow or Russell Wilson. And I do. I think God was happy to see Wilson lead his team to victory. I also think that He mourned with Manning and the Broncos. (I obviously also like to believe in a God who enjoys football.) And, of course, I sincerely believe that He has plans and a future for Tim Tebow. Which brings me to my next point…
3. I can't agree with the belief that Tebow was cut by accident, that God turned His head for a moment and looked back to see -- "OOPS. I didn't mean for that to happen." Y'all. Seriously. Nothing happens by accident. Maybe God has bigger plans than for Tim to play football. Maybe his short football career was a temporary platform for him. Maybe it was just a way for him to get the nation's attention, for him to publicly challenge people to unashamed faith, for him to communicate his message of life and love and hope. And maybe Tim will end up playing again. I don't know. But I know the Lord is sovereign. Who am I to question what He does with my life, much less someone else's?
4. This statement is just poor logic. If one follows it through, it's basically saying that if the Broncos had retained Tim Tebow as their starting quarterback, they wouldn't have been punished. In fact, they would have won. I mean, guys. Really? Let's rewind a couple seasons. AFC Championship 2012. Denver vs. New England. Tebow had his chance. And you know what? He didn't win. In fact, the point difference in that game was the same as yesterday's Super Bowl. Denver lost both games by a whopping 35 points. Was Denver being punished that year? If so, for what? It's just not logical.
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I just wanted to share a different perspective on something I saw repeated on Facebook and I felt like a status update wasn't the place for it. No one has to agree with me. But if anyone else was confused and/or shocked by statements similar to these, please know you were not alone. :)
Comments welcome. You don't have to agree with me. I'd love to hear what people think.
* Obviously there is a difference in blessings and favor, guys. I'm not discounting the fact that there is real hand-of-God favor on the lives of all who have chosen to believe in Jesus. I'm just saying there are certain blessings that are just a part of life. You win some, you lose some. Football is football. Please, let's not make it all religious. :)
2. This attitude is essentially saying that God favors Tebow over every other football player in Denver. Combined. I don't believe my God is capable of that kind of favoritism. And I don't want to. I want to believe in a God who loves everyone equally, roots for everyone equally, is just as happy to see Peyton Manning succeed as Tim Tebow or Russell Wilson. And I do. I think God was happy to see Wilson lead his team to victory. I also think that He mourned with Manning and the Broncos. (I obviously also like to believe in a God who enjoys football.) And, of course, I sincerely believe that He has plans and a future for Tim Tebow. Which brings me to my next point…
3. I can't agree with the belief that Tebow was cut by accident, that God turned His head for a moment and looked back to see -- "OOPS. I didn't mean for that to happen." Y'all. Seriously. Nothing happens by accident. Maybe God has bigger plans than for Tim to play football. Maybe his short football career was a temporary platform for him. Maybe it was just a way for him to get the nation's attention, for him to publicly challenge people to unashamed faith, for him to communicate his message of life and love and hope. And maybe Tim will end up playing again. I don't know. But I know the Lord is sovereign. Who am I to question what He does with my life, much less someone else's?
4. This statement is just poor logic. If one follows it through, it's basically saying that if the Broncos had retained Tim Tebow as their starting quarterback, they wouldn't have been punished. In fact, they would have won. I mean, guys. Really? Let's rewind a couple seasons. AFC Championship 2012. Denver vs. New England. Tebow had his chance. And you know what? He didn't win. In fact, the point difference in that game was the same as yesterday's Super Bowl. Denver lost both games by a whopping 35 points. Was Denver being punished that year? If so, for what? It's just not logical.
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I just wanted to share a different perspective on something I saw repeated on Facebook and I felt like a status update wasn't the place for it. No one has to agree with me. But if anyone else was confused and/or shocked by statements similar to these, please know you were not alone. :)
Comments welcome. You don't have to agree with me. I'd love to hear what people think.
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